Welcome to mesothelioma pleural!

Posted by May 13, 2008
Womens Health Womens Symptoms | Teen Health


Pleural Mesothelioma:

Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that originates in the mesothelial cells lining the pleura, a membrane that covers the lungs and lines the chest cavity. Approximately 75% of all mesotheliomas diagnosed are pleural mesotheliomas. Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly unilateral [on one side of the chest), and occurs most often in men age 60-80 with a history of asbestos exposure, often decades prior to diagnosis.

When pleural mesothelioma begins, it appears as a series of small white nodules which become diffuse, or widespread on the pleural surface. Gradually, these nodules begin to grow together and thicken, forming a “ rind ” that encases the lung and extends into the fissures or grooves of the pleura and the diaphragm. The tumor spreads by direct invasion of surrounding tissue, inwardly compressing the lung, and outwardly invading the chest wall and ribs.

Symptoms: The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are not, as a rule, specific enough to cause alarm, and in most cases are attributed to increasing age or overwork. Because of this, it may be several months from the onset of generalized symptoms until the first acute symptom, pleural effusion, occurs. At that time, progressive shortness of breath caused by the effusion, and chest pain caused by chest wall invasion may be in evidence. More general symptoms include dry cough, fatigue, night sweats and weight loss.

Diagnosis: On initial examination by a doctor, 80% to 95% of patients show pleural effusion on x-ray, the remaining percentage shows little or no fluid. At first, the fluid is free-flowing, and is similar in appearance to that seen in other benign causes or in congestive heart failure, and because of this, these other possibilities are the first to be ruled out in the diagnostic process. Later, the effusion becomes #8220; loculated”, or contained within a boundary in the pleural space, where the fluid does not move.

CT scans are more definitive, and may show not only the effusion, but the presence of pleural masses as well as the size certain lymph nodes; MRI is more sensitive in determining chest wall invasion and spread of disease through the diaphragm; PET may help in staging the disease for possible surgical resection by ruling out extension to the contra lateral [opposite] lung or to other distant sites.

Analysis of pleural fluid yields a confirmed diagnosis in a relatively small percentage of patients, and needle biopsy offers only slightly better results. Today, the procedure of choice is the VATS [video-assisted thoracoscopy] procedure, which has a diagnostic yield of >95% and allows for pleural biopsy, drainage of fluid and pleurodesis. VATS also ensures adequate tissue samples to facilitate a definitive diagnosis.


Mesothelioma Causes : mesothelioma peritoneum | mesothelioma risk | lung mesothelioma | mesothelioma smoking | mesothelioma | mesothelioma sarcomatiod | mesothelioma epithelioid | pleural mesothelioma | mesothelioms attorney | mesothelioma treatments | mesothelioms prognosis | mesothelioma pericardial | malignant mesothelioma

asbestos cancer information

Mesothelioma : Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of the asbestos and related diseases. Although un common, mesothelioma is no longer considered rare, mesothelioma is a cancer that is particularly difficult for doctors to diagnose and one that does not respond well to therapy, the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the most common site is the pleura [outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity] and others internal organs are also covered by these cells. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles,

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Basic Diagnosis: Diagnosing mesothelioma often means ruling out many diseases with similar symptoms before completing the diagnostic process. The initial diagnosis of mesothelioma is often made through the family doctor. The patient will give a medical history, which will include answering questions about their history of exposure to asbestos. Other diagnostic tests include x-rays, CT scans or MRI scans. The purpose of these tests is to try to see any shadowing, or tumor growth. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, lung function tests are done.

Asbestos: combination of several minerals that separate into long, threadlike fibers. Because they do not burn, do not conduct heat or electricity, and are very resistant to chemicals, these minerals are often used for making fireproof materials, electrical insulation, roofing, filters, etc. benign doing no harm, good incidence the frequency with which an event occurs [usually in a group at risk] pericardium a thin membrane surrounding the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels.

Levels of Mesothelioma

Levels of Mesothelioma: Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the oncologist will want to determine what stage the cancer is in. The mesothelioma is considered localized if it is contained to the mesothelium. If it has spread to the lymph nodes, the chest, abdomen or other organs, then it is considered to be in the advanced stages. Staging the tumor is important because it helps the oncologist determine the best course of treatment. When deciding on a treatment protocol, physicians use the acronym TNM to determine the progression of the cancer. Tumor refers to the size of the tumor, N for whether or not there is lymph node involvement, and M for metastasis, or whether the tumor has spread to any other organs. The correct assessment as to the stage of the tumor gives the patient the best hope for a positive outcome.